Saskatchewan begin defense of Grey Cup, while Chad Kelly returns highlights CFL Week 2 preview
The World Cup is displacing two CFL teams in their season openers, and we learn if Trevor Harris has enought for Grey Cup repeat.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off this week across North America, with the United States, Mexico, and Canada all starting off the tournament in their own country. That’s been impactful for the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts in the CFL this season. Both teams are being displaced from their home stadiums, with the Argonauts on the road for their first seven games.
Both the Lions and Argonauts, along with the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, make their season debuts this weekend after being on a bye week, and it’s a fascinating trio of games.
CFL Week 2 Preview
Are the Blue Bombers back?
Thursday night kicks off Week 2 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats heading to Manitoba to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both teams had their games in Week 1 decided by a walk-off field goal, with the Blue Bombers being the victors.
It raised a lot of questions overall about how good the Tiger-Cats can be. They were up 24-10 in the second half over the Montreal Alouettes, and blew the game, starting with a pick-six thrown by Bo Levi Mitchell. After building a nice lead, tailing off at the end of the game was something that’s happened far too often in recent memory. They will need a bounce-back against the Blue Bombers on Thursday, but will they get one?
It was a really nice win for the Blue Bombers against the Calgary Stampeders, who saw their free agents shine in a big way. Tim While caught his first touchdown with star wide receiver Nic Demski having a down day, and defensive lineman Jake Ceresna had a whopping three sacks. They needed to get someone opposite of Willie Jefferson.
The key to this game, and arguably everyone for Winnipeg, is how well Brady Olivera plays. The Tiger-Cats will be without linebacker Wynton McManis and haven’t won at Princess Auto Stadium since 2019. Even with new offensive coordinator Tommy Condell being a pass-happy play caller, Olivera should get a lot of run with the middle being weakened.
The return of Chad “Swag” Kelly
The East Final in 2024 was a brutal one for the Toronto Argonauts. Yes, they did win the Grey Cup the next week, and they will always love that result. However, quarterback Chad Kelly suffered a broken and dislocated ankle in the third quarter. That injury ended up costing him the entirety of the 2025 season, with Nick Arbuckle taking over in both the Grey Cup and all of last season.
You can make the argument that the injury ended up sending the Argonauts on a tailspin that cost them head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who took the Ottawa Redblacks head coach and general manager job. After a tumultuous two seasons that also included a nine-game suspension for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy, Kelly returns at the very stadium he got injured at in Montreal.
The Alouettes proved why they are the favorites to come out of the East Division with their win last week against the Tiger-Cats, and quarterback Davis Alexander extended his winning streak to start his career to 12-0 in the regular season. Even with the Alouettes being the better team, all eyes will be on Kelly to see what he’s got after a long absence.
West Final rematch begins Roughriders’ Grey Cup defense
Arguably the two best teams in the CFL face off on Saturday night in Regina, and it’s a rematch of the West Final last year.
The drive to get another Grey Cup will be a tough one, as the Roughriders lost multiple key pieces, including wide receiver Tommy Nield in the above clip, as he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
If the Roughriders are going to repeat, head coach Cory Mace’s defense will be the key, as will be starting quarterback Trevor Harris. He is 40 years old, and nearing retirement, but is there still enough left in the tank. They have plenty of talent on offense in running back A.J. Ouellette, wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker, wide receiver Samuel Emilus, and wide receiver KeeSean Johnson. Will they be able to piece it together?
On the other side are the BC Lions with quarterback Nathan Rourke, who is the best player in the league. He had a cup of coffee in the NFL and arguably should have stuck around much longer. He ended up returning to the Lions and won the 2025 Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian. With running back James Butler, wide receiver Keon Hatcher, and wide receiver Justin McInnis, the Lions are a dynamic offensive unit that can put up points on anyone.
This matchup could be a preview of the West Final, and it could show us a lot when it comes to a Roughriders repeat.